IR satellite imagery from late afternoon. Layered moisture is steadily progressing east from the Plains. Low level moisture in the form of dense fog and drizzle is developing over Iowa and southern Minnesota.

The first system is more of a coming attraction, with four to eight inches of snow likely in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota tonight through midday on Thursday.

I expect the main feature to begin late morning on Friday and continue into the start of the New Year. The band of heaviest snow, more than six inches, should stay to the west of the Twin Cities. However, snow is likely over eastern Minnesota Friday afternoon and evening.

Here is a composite surface forecast track of the two separate low centers. The low center coming out of Kansas is the stronger system that will be over far western Wisconsin on Friday night.

About the blogger

Craig Edwards began his forecasting career with the National Weather Service in 1972 and served for 15 years as the chief meteorologist in the Twin Cities for NOAA, retiring in 2006. He’s been the game day meteorologist for the Minnesota Twins since baseball moved outdoors at Target Field in 2010. Edwards is author of “Nature’s Messenger” and a speaker on climate change in Minnesota.

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Based on the track of the second storm, it would seem the Twin Cities is in the prime area for snow…. but evidently, not. Is that because there will still be too much residual warm air around from the first storm?

This is meteorologist-speak. I mentioned that the heaviest snow would likely be west of the Twin Cities and cleverly mentioned that there would be snow in eastern Minnesota. I just didn’t toss out a total yet.

“The band of heaviest snow, more than six inches, should stay to the west of the Twin Cities. However, snow is likely over eastern Minnesota Friday afternoon and evening.”